title: Three-dimensional imaging of crystalline inclusions embedded in intact maize stalks.
abstract: Mineral inclusions in biomass are attracting increased scrutiny due to their potential impact on processing methods designed to provide renewable feedstocks for the production of chemicals and fuels. These inclusions are often sculpted by the plant into shapes required to support functional roles that include the storage of specific elements, strengthening of the plant structure, and providing a defense against pathogens and herbivores. In situ characterization of these inclusions faces substantial challenges since they are embedded in an opaque, complex polymeric matrix. Here we describe the use of Bragg coherent diffraction imaging (BCDI) to study mineral inclusions within intact maize stalks. Three-dimensional BCDI data sets were collected and used to reconstruct images of mineral inclusions at 50-100 nm resolution. Asymmetries in the intensity distributions around the Bragg peaks provided detailed information about the deformation fields within these crystal particles revealing lattice defects that result in distinct internal crystal domains.
authors.affiliation: DeltaG Technologies, San Diego, California 92122, USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Badger
authors.forename: Jyotsana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lal
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Harder
authors.forename: Hideyo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Inouye
authors.forename: S Charlotte
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Gleber
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vogt
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Makowski
mesh_terms: D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D002479:Inclusion Bodies / Q000737:chemistry*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction / Q000379:methods; D003313:Zea mays / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C547998:crystallinin